WE JUST FOUND OUT: WE WON! At the County Auditor’s Office Feb. 12, School Board President Janie Beasley, School Board Member Katie Szurek and Superintendent Dr. Whitney Meissner did what students do when they are at the center of good news: they take selfies and share them with their friends. – Photo by Ken Stern

La Conner school district voters overwhelming approved renewing their school levy Feb. 12, one of four levy wins in three Skagit County school districts. The La Conner levy won with 70 percent of the vote, with 1,123 vote of over 1,600 cast. The last 200 ballots for the four districts will be counted Thursday. Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Eight representatives from the town of La Conner, Skagit County, La Conner Regional Library and La Conner Library Foundation spent last Thursday in Olympia at the state Capitol, seeking continued financial support for the new La Conner Library project. The group included Mayor Ramon Hayes, town administrator Scott Thomas, county commissioner Ron Wesen, La Conner Library board members Jean Markert and Bill Taylor, La Conner Library Foundation board member Denise Willup, library director Joy Neal and foundation director Susan Macek. Throughout the day, we were warmly received by our District 10 legislators: Sen. Barbara Bailey, Rep. Norma Smith and Rep. Dave Paul, and by District 40 Rep. Debra Lekanoff. Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Farmers and agriculture industry allies heard from Skagit County economic development leaders on the afternoon of the fourth annual Ag Summit Feb. 8, sponsored by WSU Extension at their Mount Vernon offices.Port of Skagit Executive Director Patsy Martin had the day’s big announcement, which she and the Innovation Partnership Zone, partners the Port is working with, shared with the group at the session on “Innovation.”Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Some 200 people from La Conner and as far away as Bellingham and Anacortes rallied in Mount Vernon Monday at 5 p.m. “to protest Trump’s declaration of a national disaster at the US-Mexico border,” organizers Molly Calvin and Christine Kohnert reported.Wednesday, February 20, 2019

“Happy Birthday” wasn’t the only song sung during Sybil East’s party in Shelter Bay on Saturday.Those gathered in Dallas and Nancy Burlison’s living room heard the guest of honor sing several tunes, including “You Are My Sunshine,” “Amazing Grace,” and “A Long Way to Tipperary.” The latter melody dates to World War I, which had begun a mere six months before Sybil’s birth in rural Illinois.Sybil was born Feb. 18, 1915.Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Laural Ballew studied history while a student at La Conner High.These days she’s making history.Ballew, an enrolled member of the Swinomish Tribal Community, created and chaired the Department of Tribal Governance and Business Management at Northwest Indian College.And now she’s blazing new trails.The 1974 La Conner High grad is Western Washington University’s first Executive Director of American Indian/Alaska Native and First Nations Relations and Tribal Liaison to the President.Wednesday, February 13, 2019

After more than 70 years, a storied La Conner High basketball team is sporting a different lineup.Not in terms of a revised roster but instead how the 1948 Braves, who placed eighth at the State ‘B’ Tournament, were lined up for a team photo taken separately from those that appear in the school yearbook or on the history wall in the foyer of Landy James Gym.Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Get out your fishing poles and lace up your running shoes. The La Conner Rotary Club’s 54th annual Smelt Derby Family Festival and Smelt Run are coming up on Saturday, Feb. 23.Wednesday, February 13, 2019

No way am I going to bury the lead in this review of META’s new production of “West Side Story,” which opened at the Lincoln Theatre last week. Some critics love to play with their readers and try to slowly build up to a thumbs up or thumbs down but I’m going to cut to the chase.The production is wonderful.Wednesday, February 13, 2019

No one will argue that LaConner exudes romance. This little town on the Swinomish channel offers all the right elements for a special evening out or weekend away. Its vote as “Best Romantic Spot” by Romantic Getaways of Washington State heralds this across the region and around the world. But where do the locals rendezvous for romance?Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Gary Giovane is both an artist and scientist at his core. As a student of science he came to the Skagit Valley as part of an archeological dig in the 1970s. He returned after decades of teaching science and math, to dedicate himself to art. This past year he has exhibited his work at Hadrian Stone Design & Gallery, Matzke Gallery and the Schack Art Center’s Holiday Art Show.Wednesday, February 13, 2019

As snow piled up in La Conner, so did meeting agendas.A rare extended winter storm, which blanketed the local area with an estimated eight inches of white, led both La Conner Schools and the Town of La Conner to shelve regularly scheduled meetings this week.Wednesday, February 13, 2019